Research data management

Submit your data

Once you've selected and prepared your data you can upload it to Sussex Figshare. The research data team in the Library will review your submission before being published.

Log in to Sussex Figshare

All Sussex researchers automatically get an account on Sussex Figshare.  Go to Sussex Figshare and click 'Log in' in the top right corner.  Use your normal ITS user name and password to gain access.  

You will be taken to your 'My data' area straight away where you can begin uploading your files and also see all the files you've previously uploaded.

Upload and describe your data

  • From 'My data' you can upload your files and create your descriptions that will help people find and understand your data.  See this Figshare guide on how to upload your data for help on how to add files.
  • Make sure you choose a title that describes your dataset in a way that people will understand.  It is important to state that the described files are research data and not the actual research paper itself.
  • If you need to upload a file in a proprietary format, provide information about the proprietary software that is needed to read the file.  See this library guide for more information about choosing file formats.
  • In your description, make sure you explain the labels of your variables and values in tables/graphs/stats.
  • People can find your data through a google search – so the better you describe your data the more likely they will find it!
  • Figshare supports custom metadata schemas.  If you want to define more fields to describe your data - such as creation date,  geospatial information or anything else that should be put in a seperate field, then contact the research data team in the library at research-data@sussex.ac.uk to discuss your options.  This might be particularly useful for departments and schools who can define metadata schemas that are discipline specific.

Metadata only record

  • It may be more appropriate for you to deposit your data in a seperate discipline specific repository.  We would encourage this if there are standard repositories for data deposit in your academic field.
  • It is possible to create a metadata only record in Sussex Figshare that can describe your research data and then provide a link to where the dataset is held.  Simply click the 'Metadata only record' checkbox at the top of the submission form.

Reserve your DOI

Every dataset in the repository can have a unique persistent Digital Object Identifier.  This can be linked to or cited in publications and can be reserved before you publish your data if your publisher requests it.  You can assign a DOI to each item or to a group of items in a Collection.

  1. log in to Sussex Figshare using your ITS username and password.  
  2. Click ‘Create a new item’
  3. Scroll down to the bottom of the metadata form and click ‘Reserve Digital Object Identifier’
  4. This will then generate a DOI and automatically save the record.
  5. You can then copy this DOI and use, prefixed with https://doi.org/,  wherever you need to provide a permanent link to the data. The DOI will not resolve to the data record until the dataset has been published.

Make your data available for reviewers before publication

You can make your data available for peer reviewers prior to publication by creating a 'private link'.  This link will remove the authors from the record to aid blind peer review, but you should still check for any other identifying details contained within the record or dataset.

  1. Upload your data as described above
  2. Under 'item actions, you will see an option to 'share with private link'
  3. Copy the link and use this link for private sharing only, such as for peer review. The private link should be replaced with the DOI for public sharing.
  4. The private link can be accessed by anyone who has it, regardless of whether they have a Figshare account.

Publication

Before you submit there are a few more options available that you should consider:

  • Licence - Pick from the licence drop down the appropriate licence for your data. Most data is licensed under Creative Commons licenses.  If you need support choosing a licence, or to use a licence that isn't in the list, contact  research-data@sussex.ac.uk.  
  • Embargo - You can place an embargo on your data if you are only allowed to make the data available after a defined period of time.  You can set the embargo on just the items or both the items and metadata.  Once your defined embargo period expires, the data will automatically be made available.
  • Link your data to your research output - We recommend that you always provide a link to your research output as this can provide important context for your data.
  • Data statement in publication - Funders require publications to include a data access statement indicating how and where the data can be accessed.Once you have created a DOI in Sussex Figshare you can include this in your data statement.

Review process

When you click the publish button, your data won't be published straight away. You will be advised that your dataset has been submitted for review and that the Library will review your data.  

We will work with you to enrich the data record so the dataset is fully described, and will ask you to confirm that you have consent to share the data, that you are in a position to select the licence you have chosen, and for any additional details about linked publications.

Once the submission is approved, your data will be published and will appear immediately at Sussex Figshare.